Phill News Entertainment – Phill News
Iran’s missile attack on Israel “was correct, logical and legal,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a huge crowd gathered in Tehran to hear him on Friday.
The country’s supreme leader called the attack a “minimal punishment” for Israel’s “shocking crime” while leading Friday prayers in the capital, something he has not done since 2020.
Khamenei’s speech came three days after Iran fired nearly 200 rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Persian-speaking supreme leader delivered part of his speech in Arabic to his Palestinian and Lebanese supporters.
In his sermon, Khamenei praised Nasrallah and supported Hamas and Hezbollah, saying they provide “vital services to the entire region and the entire Islamic world.”
He said militant groups allied with Iran “will not back down” in the conflict with Israel. The conflict entered a new phase about a year ago when Hamas launched deadly attacks against Israel.
Iran is the main backer of Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as other militant groups in the Middle East that have attacked Israel. They often refer to themselves as the “Axis of Resistance.”
In recent weeks, several senior members of Iran-backed groups and the Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s powerful military wing, have been killed in Israeli attacks or suspected assassinations by Israel.
The Supreme Leader’s appearance before tens of thousands of people in Tehran shows the seriousness of the situation for the Iranian regime, which is facing widespread discontent at home.
It can be seen as an attempt to project Iran’s strength and restore credibility as the leader of the “Axis of Resistance”.
Khamenei’s public appearance, after reports emerged that he had been moved to a safe location following Nasrallah’s assassination, was also intended to show that he was not in hiding.
People flooded the Mosara Grand Mosque after Iranians were offered free transport to attend the sermon. A large Palestinian flag was visible among the crowd.
Though Khamenei holds the highest power in Iran, he rarely leads Friday prayers himself.
He last did so in 2020, after the United States killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. The previous time was in 2012.
Iran is still reeling from the loss of its ally Nasrullah and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July.
It is widely believed that Israel is responsible for Haniyeh’s murder, but it has not commented on his death.
Khamenei also told the crowd that Iran would retaliate if Israel responded as expected to Tuesday’s rocket attack.
“If we have to do it again, we will do the same in the future,” Khamenei told supporters.
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden suggested that a possible Israeli attack on Iran’s oil infrastructure was under discussion as Israel continues to consider how to strike back against Tehran.
